The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-04-16
LITTLE JEROM {.

Placed in Cage of His Fathers Menagerie
With the Panther and the Lioness-Ho
Saved the Circus.
Once upon a time there was man
who kept menagerie, and in it were
several great animals and some smaller
/ ones.
TIL man who owned the menagerie,
or travelling geological garden, was
Kind; so was his wife. They had one
fittle child, boy; and at the time of
my story this child was two years old,
or thereabouts-a fine, chubby little
boy, who was pleased with the animals
and birds, and would laugh and chat
with them in his own little way until
even the mischievous monkeys were
glad to see him.
The menagerie travelled through the
country. 1t was i'm France. People
came to see the performing elephant
and the other creatures, and watched
little Jerome ride Mescules that was
the elephants name--and play few
tricks.
have told you Shat the man who
owned the menagerie was good and
kind So he was, but he had enemies,
and one enemy in PARTICULAR lazy,
idle man., who had once owned this
very menagerie, who was too idle and
cruel to keep it. SO he sold the animals,
and spent the money in idleness. But
when he saw how well the other mar
was getting on, how mUeh money he
was making, how the animals liked him.,
and when he remembered that he him.
self could never do this. he got very
angry. He was greedy and jealous; he
did not want 10 work, yet he wanted
money, and was angry with Jerome's
father for making a success of what he
(Maltait) only failed in. This Maltait
said he would be ''revengedL"
What do you think he dido 1t was a
bad, wicked action, and only cruel
man would have thought of such a
thing. He printed bills, and let all the
people know that on certain day, in
a certain town. Mr.. Bonnet's little son
would go into the pantheu'S den, and
sit there. Do you know why he said
thisp because, said he 20 himself,
"a great number of people will come to
see the show, and lam sure Bonnet will
not let his boy go into the cage. Then
the people will be angry, and pull down
the show, perhaps ordo some damage. "
When the menagerie reached the
town, Mr.. Bonnet. Jerome's father,
was very much surprised to see the bills
saying that his dear little jerome would
20 into the cage with the liOness and
the panther, which lived together, and
sit with the savage beasts. His wife
was in terrible way. She cried, and
begged her husband to find out who
p had done such g wicked thing. The
people were rough, and liked rough
scenes. They wanted to see the littl,
boy in the cage, and even if the panthel
tore him they would not have cared!
The menager was fixed up; all tn,
caravans with the cages were arranged
as usual, and early in the afternoon
great crowd of rough men came, anC
I women and children, to sec little Je
rome in the cage. Mrs. Bonn, t wanted
= to tell the people it was mistake, bu
G her husband said: "They will tear u
: to pieces, perhaps, or burn themenage
RE in their disappointment. l mus
see what l can do"
= The people came in and crushe,
: about. Mr.. Bonnet had fe
the animals, and they wer
- quiet. Hercules" the elephant
+ walked about, jerome played hi
- prauks, and then the people began t
. call out for the "cage trick, ~ as the
. said. Mr.. Bonnet made them speech
. He said he had not printed the bill:
and it was done without his knowledge
C 1t had been done by some enemy, VIII
D., would be punished, no doubt, som
t day, But if the people ins stcd--
t YES! yes" they insisted. He mu.
/ put the child in the cage!
l. Then Mr. Bonnet got yer
II faint He did not dare refus
G and yet his heart WAS sad. II
dear little son might be torn in piece
, but h. must do as the people said I
the whole menagerie might be destrO
= ed. So he said: VERY well, ladi
and gentlemen; for to-day only l vi